I HOPED that he would love me,
And he has kissed my mouth,
But I am like a stricken bird
That cannot reach the south.
For tho’ I know he loves me,
To-night my heart is sad;
His kiss was not so wonderful
As all the dreams I had.
Originally published in Helen of Troy and Other Poems (1911) by Sara Teasdale. Public domain.
Analysis
Early in Teasdale’s career, her concise love lyrics combined luminous imagery with emotional candor; this piece appeared in Helen of Troy and Other Poems (1911).
In eight lines, “The Kiss” turns fulfillment into ambivalence. The speaker receives the longed-for kiss yet feels like a “stricken bird,” a vivid simile that captures the shock of reality falling short of imagination.
Teasdale’s plain diction and tight rhyme make the final couplet unforgettable — desire is powerful not only for what it gains but for what it cannot keep.